A Review of Recent Research on Nutrition and Metabolism in the Athletic Horse

Abstract

Although a lot of research has been directed at attempts to improve performance of the equine athlete, many of the studies reviewed herein did not show statistically significant improvements in race times or increased time to fatigue. However, it must be remembered that success in racing performances is not always measured in time, but by comparative lengths or even by a nose. Therefore, improvement in the ability of an individual equine athlete is not always measurable and success is most frequently determined by one animal being better than the others in a particular competition. Therefore, any nutritional practices that have a chance to enhance an individual animal's performance, however slight, become significant when viewed in terms of the real world situation and who earns the purse at the end of the race. There have been dramatic improvements in the understanding of nutrition and metabolism in the equine athlete in recent years but numerous conflicting reports persist. It remains to be seen whether this information will result in improved performances or reduced rates of injury in the equine athletes of the world.